Bento boxes for a hearty lunch

SCOUTING for a place to get some lunch yesterday led me and three buddies to this restaurant located beside Ebisuya Inc. in Susupe, a place known for its variety of Korean bento boxes — Dae Jang Kum Restaurant.
A wait staff member guided us to a table for four in the center of the main dining room and handed us a couple of menus. All of us decided to go for the special $6 bento lunch, or those packed meals consisting of a little of everything.
I went for the thin beef bento while my buddies ordered fish mackerel, Gobi or thick beef slices, and shrimp. Our bentos were served quickly, containing  rice and side dishes of monggo bean sprouts, Korean cold noodles, potato slices, steamed eggplants, kimchi, anchovies and a slice of fried tofu.
My main dish of thin beef meat with strips of carrots and onions tasted good, complemented by the spicy side dishes. My buddies dug into their lunches with gusto. In all fairness, the food was good, except for the soup that came with our orders. I don’t want to repeat what buddy Ed said but if you are expecting soup with flavors that blend well with your main dish and leaves you craving for more, you will be disappointed. We left our soup bowls alone after the first sip, but then eating across cultures require some palate adjustments which we were unable to do yesterday.
A steady stream of early diners trickled in, filling the tables around us.
Start your meal from the long list of appetizers available such as spicy fried pork, fried fish, steamed shrimp or mussel, bean curd kimchi, roasted squid, and steamed pig feet.
Main courses include kimchi fried rice, assorted mixtures in hot stone bowl, Korean cold noodle, beef vegetable combination soup, rice with sashimi and hot paste, handmade noodle, rice dumpling, beef bone soup and more.
If you want your meals hot from the pot, you can try the stew meals such as fish, chicken, and beef galbi soup. At Dae Jang Kum Restaurant, you can grill your ox ribs, seasoned raw beef, sliced beef tongue, spicy pork or seafood right at your table.
Cap your meals with beverages from the drink menu which includes lemontea, iced tea, soft drinks, beers and wines.
It’s one of those restaurants where small groups can dine in total comfort and in privacy inside the smaller VIP rooms. Tatame tables are also available for those who prefer to dine in a traditional Japanese setting. All in all, the place provides a pleasant and homey ambiance.
Dae Jang Kum Restaurant opens for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. All major credit cards are accepted. For reservations, call 234-9595.
This article was first published HERE